Welcome to your autumn Hospice news
Hello, I’m Jainie - Head of Patient and Family Support. I joined the Hospice in 2022 and I oversee the Social Work, Spiritual Care and Psychological Therapy services. I work alongside our clinical teams who are committed to providing compassionate care across our diverse communities.
Over the past few years, we’ve seen a steady increase in the need for support from our Psychological Therapy team. This team provides a confidential, safe space for people to explore and reflect upon the complex emotions that may arise when experiencing a bereavement or end of life diagnosis. You can read more about the specialist work my team does and how we’ve adapted to meet this growing need on pages 16-17.
Finding the right support can make the world of difference. It’s only with your ongoing support that we can continue providing the holistic end of life care that we do.
Thank you.
Our teams and their uniforms
From Doctors to Social Workers, there are lots of different roles in the Hospice and they each have their own uniform. Visit stpetershospice.org/ourteams to find out more.
Becoming a research active hospice
We’re delighted to be offering the people we care for the chance to be part of research in different areas of our work. Amy is our first Research Nurse here at the Hospice and has been working within our Education team for just over a year. She previously worked in a busy NHS hospital and has involved over 1,000 people in research.
We spoke to Amy about her role and the why it’s important the Hospice takes part in research.
“This is the first year we’ve done in-house research here at the Hospice” says Amy. “My role is all about the safe collection of clinical data from patients in a real life setting. To do this, I invite people to take part in projects we’re working on, and record their progress. There are all kinds of people that come into our care, and we need all kinds of people to take part. People volunteer to get involved, anyone can take part and they can change their mind at any time.
Research is important because we can use it to make sure the way we work is up to date. It helps us to enhance our care and deliver changes quickly based on evidence.
Research is a new concept in healthcare, and end of life care in particular is
historically an under-researched area. Those who take part need a unique approach and a set of careful considerations in times of heightened emotion, symptoms and fatigue.
I often highlight studies that have changed practice and influenced the healthcare and screening that we all benefit from in our daily lives. Despite the challenges that many face with end of life research, I’ve found that people are interested and willing to take part.
CHELsea II is a project I’m working on at the moment, which focusses on what we call clinically assisted hydration, meaning fluids via a drip. We’re looking at the effect it has on a person during the last few days of their life. Currently, we don’t give hydration through a drip in the last days
“It’s been wonderful to see people’s willingness to take part in research at the Hospice.”
of life, unless there’s a clear reason to do so. This research project aims to show whether fluids improve or worsen end of life care, looking at the effect on delirium, pain, and other symptoms.
It’s been wonderful to see people’s willingness to take part in research at the Hospice. Patients and their families aren’t only receptive, but many have said that being involved made their experience better. Our goal was to sign up 30 people ahead of schedule, which we did, placing us first among 91 hospices nationwide. It’s a huge achievement for us.
This is testament to the enthusiasm and care of our staff, and the spirit and generosity of the patients who gave their time to help make changes for others.
By sharing knowledge and seeing positive changes, we can create a culture where questioning is encouraged, and alternative approaches are welcomed. This will lead to better understanding and development of the services we offer.”
Jazz’s story
Martyn, who’s known as Jazz, is 62 and lives in South Bristol. He’s been living with prostate cancer for the last two years, having been diagnosed during the pandemic. Jazz has been getting support from our Community Nurse Specialist team, who visit him at home. We spoke to him and his wife Sandra about their experience of the Hospice.
Jazz says, “Pre-cancer I was sporty and a member of a gym. I worked for Rolls Royce for 44 years so when I retired, we bought a flat for an investment. It was while I was working on the flat that I started to get back pain. I couldn’t continue to work on it the way that I was. When I went to see my Doctor, they thought it was a water infection initially. But after I had a blood test and examination, they knew straight away that it was prostate cancer.”
Jazz then started treatment to lower his PSA level, a measure of the amount of prostate antigen in the blood.
“I started hormone therapy to begin with which kept my PSA level down. Then when I went for another check-up, the cancer had jumped from the lower to my upper back. The first round of chemotherapy failed, then the second lot seemed to work but they had to stop it because my legs got so bad. They did everything they could to save them, but they couldn’t.”
Jazz lost the use of his legs after the cancer spread further, causing
irreversible damage to his spine. His wife Sandra helps with his day-to-day care.
“We want to get the word out about prostate cancer because a lot of men don’t know how important it is to get checked.”
Sandra says, “He’s only 62 so it was a shock when he was diagnosed. He’s a big Bristol City fan and lots of the players have sent messages to him. People just need to know more about this type of cancer, so this doesn’t happen to them.”
Before Jazz was diagnosed with cancer, the couple looked forward to retirement.
“The sad thing for me is that you work all your life and when you retire, you expect to relax and enjoy everything you’ve earned. It’s not been like that for me, and I’ve had some bad luck.” says Jazz.
“I think there’s a stigma that comes from the word ‘Hospice’. I was worried when I was told I’d get help from St Peter’s as I thought it meant I was at the end, but it’s not like that. It’s about helping you to live better while you’re here. We get help
“It’s about helping you to live better while you’re here.”
from my Nurses, including Cate, who’s been brilliant. She’s taken the pressure off and goes above and beyond to make sure we have all the support we need. Cate’s helped with pain relief, giving me the medication I need, and she’s knowledgeable, she can tell us which medications go with each other. It’s been really reassuring.
“It’s allowed me to offload, it’s a listening ear. Everyone I know has sung the Hospice’s praises.”
Sandra says, “The Hospice is always just a phone call away. It feels like you’ve got another family, and they care about you. We feel lucky to have found people that we can rely on. St Peter’s know their job so well. If they don’t know the answer to something, they will find out for you and get back to you.
“It’s hard to accept that you need people to come into our home and help. But St Peter’s are so professional and supportive. It’s what you call a friendship.”
Sandra and Jazz on their wedding day
Sunday 1 December
Brave the chill this December and take on our Cold Water Dip!
We’ll be returning to Portishead Open Air Pool on Sunday 1 December for an afternoon of chilly swims, hot tubs, warming drinks and more!
The challenge will see you embrace your inner Wim Hof and take a dip in the cold water to raise funds for the Hospice.
Whether you’re a seasoned cold water swimmer or looking to try something new we’d love you to join us!
Sign up here:
stpetershospice.org/ColdDip
Memory Tree
“St Peter’s Hospice looked after my parents and my husband. I wanted a way to support the Hospice whilst also supporting my memories of them. The Memory Tree is the perfect way to do this and knowing I can visit any time is a huge comfort.”
Beverley,
family member
Remember and honour your loved one by adding a copper leaf engraved with their name to the Memory Tree. This is a beautiful and meaningful way to remember family and friends. The Tree was sculpted by a local blacksmith and has been ‘planted’ in the corner of the gardens to create a tranquil and private place for families to spend time remembering loved ones. For more information, or to order a leaf, visit stpetershospice.org/Tree or call
Light up a Life
At this time of year, we come together to remember and celebrate loved ones.
Remembrance events
Join us for carols, reflection, and refreshments as we remember those we’ve lost, whether they were cared for at St Peter’s or elsewhere.
Sunday 1 December, 5pm - 6pm
The Salvation Army, Staple Hill
Saturday 7 December, 3pm - 4pm
St Peter’s Hospice, Charlton Road
Whichever way you choose to remember and honour your loved one, visit stpetershospice.org/Remember for more information. Hospice
If you would like to attend, please let us know by visiting stpetershospice.org/Remember or contact our Supporter Care Team on supportercare@stpetershospice.org
The Book of Remembrance
Your loved one’s name can be inscribed into our beautiful gold trimmed, hand-bound book, which will be available to view at our remembrance events.
Tree of Light
Commemorate your loved one by dedicating a virtual light or star with their name, photo and a special message on our online Tree of Light – a special way to remember them this Christmas.
Events Calendar
2024 2025
Walk to Remember
6 October, Ashton Court - A family 5K walk through beautiful Ashton Court to remember loved ones. There will be musical entertainment, a trail for kids, our memory trees for you to hang tributes plus more to make it a special day.
Cold Water Dip
1 December, Portishead Open Air Pool
Light Up a Life Remembrance Events
1 December, 5pm - 6pm The Salvation Army, Staple Hill
7 December, 3pm - 4pm St Peter’s Hospice, Charlton Road
Knitivity
25 November – 24 December, The Mall Cribbs Causeway –See our life-size knitted nativity scene throughout December.
Christmas Tree Collection
10 & 11 January - Teams of volunteers and local companies will be out across the two days collecting your real Christmas trees.
Tour de Bristol
5 April – Our iconic bike ride is back for its 11th year! Get the date in your diary and sign up now to be the first to hear when registration opens. stpetershospice.org/tourdebristol
Rugby March
March/April – Choose between a three or six mile walk before taking your seat at Ashton Gate for another lively Bristol Bears game! stpetershospice.org/rugbymarch
To find out more or to register for one of our events please visit stpetershospice.org/events
From clothing and jewellery to musical instruments, art, cameras and electrical items- if you’ve got quality items that you no longer need or use, we’d love to have them so that others can gift them as Christmas presents.
Simply drop them off at your local St Peter’s shop. Find your nearest here: stpetershospice.org/shopfinder
Become a shop volunteer
Whether you can spare a day or a week, whatever time you can give, we’d love for you to join us as a volunteer. There’s a huge variety of roles in our Retail department – from listing items on our eBay shop at our Warehouse, to chatting to customers behind the till in one of our 44 shops. There’s bound to be a role for you.
We spoke to Sally, who volunteers in our Downend shop about why she loves volunteering.
Can you tell us how you started volunteering?
I retired in 2020 and always thought that I’d like to volunteer in a charity shop. I wanted to volunteer for a good cause and my best friend’s husband was supported by the Hospice as well as several colleagues and families where I worked before retirement. The Downend shop is local to me and when I saw that they had a role available, I popped in and met with Jess, the Shop Manager.
What sort of thing does your role involve?
We get some fantastic items donated here, with good quality brands and I sort them when we get them in. I sometimes cover the till too. If there’s anything that needs doing, I’ll do it - I’m tall so I’m always asked to reach the top of the shelves!
We hear you’re into sewing, can you tell us more?
I don’t like waste, so I’ve been known to take something home, wash it and
Interested in becoming a volunteer?
repair it and then bring it back to the shop to be sold. I love crafting and sewing- I’ve been sewing since I was six, but there’s only so much I can sew for myself. I watched a YouTube video of how to upcycle jeans and found out how to make bags from the ones that are damaged or badly worn and can’t be sold here in the shop. Every bag is different, and they sell really well.
I recently made a kimono out of a quilt. The quilt couldn’t be sold as it had holes in it, so I made it into something that could be.
What do you enjoy most about being a volunteer?
I love the people and have made new friends – you meet all sorts of people here. But it’s also about feeling that I’m doing something good for a worthy cause.
Find our more or sign up via stpetershospice.org/volunteer
Supporting families through therapy
Finding out that you or someone you’re close to has an incurable illness can take a toll on your emotional wellbeing.
Our Psychological Therapies team support the people we care for and their loved ones with therapy sessions. Our Psychological Therapies Manager, Tom, explains how his team has adapted to the needs of the people we support.
“For people who are living with an incurable illness, or for their loved ones, dealing with the emotional effects that come with a diagnosis can be overwhelming.
My team support the emotional wellbeing of our patients, those close to them, and people who’ve lost someone. We see people on their own or in any kind of family group, and help all age groups, including children affected by the illness or loss of a loved one. This can be online or in person, both in people’s homes, out in the community and in the Hospice. Therapy can involve anything from being a listening ear to other therapies like music and art therapy, psychotherapy and mindfulness.
Over the past year, demand for psychological therapy has been high, so my team has adapted to meet the rise in demand and to better serve our community.
We’ve recruited new Psychological Support Workers and Senior Psychological Therapists. Psychological Support Workers work under qualified Therapists and help support the group sessions that we run, as well as seeing patients and their loved ones. Qualified Therapists respond to the most complex referrals and provide more holistic support.
Our Senior Psychological Therapists are leaders in developing different areas of
our service such as Groupwork, Children and Young People and Complex Pain. Having more Therapists has meant we’re able to manage complex referrals and tailor therapy sessions to meet the unique needs of the people we support.
The average waiting time for therapy is around 127 days, so for those needing immediate support, or those waiting for one-to-one therapy, we’re offering more group therapy sessions online and in the Hospice. Group sessions are where people can come together to talk through their emotions and learn the best ways to manage them. Since last October, we’ve developed our group therapy sessions to include grief support, created for people who’ve lost someone close to them, and to give space to talk through the emotional pain that comes with grief.
One of our group sessions covers support for Carers. Caring for someone who’s ill is emotionally challenging. The sessions explore those challenges in a supportive
In 2023-2024
2,300 sessions were delivered
949 total referrals
635 total assessments
community. They cover things like the stresses of caregiving, the changes in a relationship when caring for someone, and the psychological impact of becoming a Carer.
We’ve also made great strides in supporting children and young people, with 50% more referrals in the past year. This has led us to create monthly support groups for 5–11-year-olds and 12–17-yearolds who’ve lost someone cared for by the Hospice, and pre-bereavement groups for 5–16-year-olds. Our Senior Psychological Therapist, Pippa, leads all these sessions with the help of volunteers.
We’re pleased with the progress we’re making and hope to develop more in the coming year, so that everyone can access the support they need.”
Chris’s Story
We see a wide range of conditions within the care we provide to patients across our region, from cancer to neurological illnesses. Chris is living with Multiple System Atrophy (MSA), a rare neurological illness. He lives with his wife Penny, who now cares for him. Chris has been attending our Neurological Living Well programme as part of our Day Services at the Hospice.
Chris says, “My illness started with a hand tremor. I put it down to a trapped nerve and ignored it for a while. Pen and I were going to work when she noticed it. She told me I should get it checked out with a GP, so I arranged an appointment and they put me in touch with a Parkinson’s team. It was there that they told me it was Parkinson’s Disease. It was absolutely devastating for us; we were in floods of tears.
“Two years after that, my blood pressure started dropping. My diagnosis changed from Parkinson’s Disease to MSA. We’d never heard of it before, it was like another bomb had dropped. Pen worked in a hospital so when the pandemic happened she continued to work and I had to spend a lot of time on my own.”
Chris has difficulty with his mobility and can no longer drive. His wife Penny, cares for him at home.
Penny says, “There was a lot of anger and upset at the start because he couldn’t process it. We’ve had to adjust to a lot of things. He tried to hold onto things he thought he could do”.
“When Chris was referred to the Hospice, we were both scared as we thought it meant end of life. We had no idea that the Hospice did so much for the community. ”
Penny - Chris’s wife
Chris was referred to the Hospice after his illness progressed. He started attending our new Neurological Living Well programme at the Hospice, created for people living with a neurological illness. The groups run for six weeks and cover things like breathlessness management and mindfulness, as well as understanding how to come to terms with a neurological illness. It gives space for people to discuss what’s on their
“It’s welcoming, friendly and I felt embraced by the group and by the staff. I can’t express enough gratitude.”
mind, or connect with others in the group in a relaxed environment.
Penny says “When Chris was referred to the Hospice, we were both scared as we thought it meant end of life. We had no idea that the Hospice did so much for the community.
“When we started going to the Hospice, we suddenly didn’t feel so alone. It’s opened so many doors for us. It’s having someone you can trust. We felt that we’d
turned a corner when the Hospice got in touch, it changed so much for us.”
Chris says, “The group has been comforting as I get to meet people in a similar situation. The Hospice are so experienced in dealing with different illnesses, I can’t speak highly enough about them. It’s welcoming, friendly and I felt embraced by the group and by the staff. I can’t express enough gratitude.”
A legacy of love
A Will is a legal love letter to those following in your footsteps.
Your Will ensures your loved ones are looked after and your final wishes are fulfilled.
Leaving a Gift in your Will is also a great way to support the causes you care about – without costing you a penny today.
You can choose a gift as a percentage of your estate. As little as 1% - or more, if you wish – can make a huge difference to a charity and those they support.
Making a Will can be quick and easy, and FREE when done through our partners. You can make or update your Will for free online, over the telephone, or at a face-to-face Solicitor appointment.
Did you know?
• Almost half of our services are provided in the community, not just in the Hospice
• Our Community Nurses supported more than 2,000 patients last year
• The equivalent of 1 in 5 of our Community Nurses are funded thanks to gifts in Wills
The only information you need to make a gift to St Peter’s is our Registered Charity Name, St Peter’s Hospice, and Number, 269177.
Please visit stpetershospice.org/FreeWills to find out more and to sign up. If you have any questions or would like any help, please call Matt on 01275 391415 or email matthew.crothers@stpetershospice.org
